GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate)
GHB As An Anti-Depressant
Written by: Asterix (Toverdrank!)
I am *convinced* that GHB is a very valuable drug in treating depression, if not by far the most effective anti-depressant.
At the same time, this drug is currently not easily available for many of us, and some who have chosen to manufacture their own product are putting themselves in serious risk of being arrested and imprisoned (depending on the country you live in).
I find this a highly undesirable situation... I am NOT a psychopharmacologist, but I DO have experience with several (if not many) drugs, I read a lot about them. Consider it a hobby.
So: I do not have the authority of a scientist, but I have absolutely done more than simply reading about GHB and repeating that here. If it were not for the restrictive laws on GHB in my country, I would have posted this article non-anonymously.
First take into account the fact that since its discovery in 1961 (by Wermuth and Laborit) it has been praised for its beneficial effects, and its remarkable SAFETY in man (by SCIENTISTS, that is), until about 1989, when the American DEA (sigh) started to spread paranoid stories about dangers of GHB.
(It appears there are STILL some hard-liners who keep insisting that GHB is a dangerous drug, apparently overlooking the massive numbers of articles and references on newsnet, proving it's not.)
That was just the time that GHB had gained popularity in the USA. Before that, the (European) opinion was just positive. But then again, science in the (puritanical) USA seems to produce different results than the more behaviorally free European countries like say France or, especially, Italy.
The Dutch attitude WAS liberal, but seems to regress. But then again, the Netherlands have a lot of Protestants/Calvinists -their minds being as narrow as the American... (Not the Dutch in general!).
I am sorry if this remark offends you, but I am absolutely convinced that a Protestant/Calvinist conviction is a perfect basis for a narrow mind.
(Explanation further on. Interesting references are, for example: Alice Miller from Germany and Aleid Schilder from the Netherlands.)
I won't address the issue of the availability in detail. Obtaining good (pharmaceutical grade) GHB is a real problem, but if you read netnews regularly, you will very probably be able to find yourself a good source (in case you can't convince your physician.
It SEEMS that GHB is allowed to be prescribed in the US (again), but I'm not sure). Clintec Nutrition, France (I have no full address), produces pharmaceutical (grade) GHB. (So I have read.
I have not confirmed this.) Browsing Usenet (e.g. via http://www.altavista.digital.com) is a very effective search method, by the way. And for those who have access to high quality chemicals and some basic lab equipment, there's the option of manufacturing GHB (it's not too difficult), though: be aware that the laws in your country may forbid this...
And I've heard rumors that one of the essential precursors (Gamma-butyrolactone) is now a watched chemical in the USA. Don't know about the status in the European countries. (And NO, I will absolutely NOT sell anything even only related to GHB, as I am taking enough risk already. So please don't even bother to ask.)
Though it seems it is not yet widely known or accepted (even scientific research on this aspect of GHB is currently very rare, but it is there!), it is the most effective and fastest acting antidepressant so far (!!)
It does not take you weeks of agony before it MAY do 'something' (like ALL common anti-depressants); instead, it takes effect within half an hour, and in a way you may not believe until you've tried if/when you're depressed. First of all, it takes away a huge amount of stress and anxiety.
You will feel something that can be compressed into ...It's OK... though WITHOUT indifference about your situation: instead you will find yourself much more confident in your ability to cope with whatever you're struggling with.
This statement is based on scientific research, testimonies of several GHB users, and my own experience with GHB. I have suffered depressive periods for over seventeen years. I have had *none* so far since I started taking GHB, over four months ago.
So: you will not be sedated like some serotonin reuptake inhibitors -cutting off the dips AND the tops of your mood, effectively turning you into a quasi-satisfied zombie.
(Yes, I've been there too, with Paroxetine (Seroxat).)
With GHB, your depression is lifted in the opposite way. You will sense a feeling of relaxation and well-being, accompanied by a benign wish to interact with other people.
What if you are not so good at that? (A common problem -if not the cause with depressed people) Well, at the same time, you will notice that your ability to communicate intimately is simply there! (Not only my observation!!!
Plus: this action of GHB is partly understood now!) The mechanism is very probably related to the peculiar disinhibitive properties of GHB (very probably a secondary effect).
This disinhibition is also very probably related to another effect of GHB: especially depressed people will notice clearly that their (blocked) feelings return (FAST!!).
This can easily be accompanied by a REWARDING time spent CRYING! Processing traumata seems to be facilitated AND accelerated by GHB. (The last remark is based on my own experience alone. The part of the crying is something I can confirm.)
In a private mail exchange I wrote about this aspect:
In fact, in the first weeks of my GHB-therapy, I could clearly focus on a painful issue, and feel the sadness associated with it and cry about it.
But if suddenly someone would drop by, I could as easily put the issue on the shelf and be open to conversation with the person that came by, and take it off the shelf to process it further -as long as I felt it to be necessary -JUST AT WILL!!
Notice that DEPRESSION IS A STATE OF BEHAVIORAL INHIBITION (Laborit). Any drug lifting this inhibition should relieve depression. GHB antagonizes gonises this inhibition by stimulating ACTION and multimodality pleasure.
Let me add that I believe that the inhibition is not only behavioral. Internal blockades (e.g. by an internalized restrictive super-ego; in my opinion this is an important CAUSE of behavioral inhibition) play their role too.
I do not yet know to what extent these blockades can be dealt with as well, with GHB. Possibly it can be done with the aid of a good psychotherapist, within a therapy? (I'm about to find out.
My therapist did not know about GHB until recently, but she is open-minded enough to see what GHB does, and to respect me in my choice to take GHB.)
You will probably notice a (dramatic) increase in self-confidence, and self-esteem. (I did; I believe it is again related to the funny disinhibition GHB invokes: I don't really WORRY about all kinds of things anymore. Instead, I trust my intuition more, and rely more on my own opinion.
I noticed that this attitude strongly reduced my stress level, and further opened my communication channels with the outside world, as I am much less afraid of criticism now.)
This effect, plus the sociability (empathogenic) action (which you will also find to be very rewarding) make GHB an extremely effective anti-depressant.
But its usage needs not be limited to depressed people only. It is reported over and over that this simple compound will increase the joy one feels over things that you already like.
And the longer you use GHB, the stronger this effect seems to become. (On my last holiday, I did not take any GHB (after having used it for several weeks), hardly thought about it, but felt ridiculously happy!!
For instance: imagine waking up and finding yourself utterly happy without apparent reason, just enjoying being there, and feeling absolutely great...) I've been told that this is *TYPICAL* of GHB.
Is it addictive? No more than candy or water or so. (I believe Laborit emphasized this too.) Dr. Gallimberti (Italy...) applies GHB, to *very* effectively *TREAT* addiction (and withdrawal symptoms) in patients!!!
It may LOOK LIKE GHB is addictive: If it makes you feel good, it must be addictive (the usual Anglo-Saxon/protestant reasoning) is often heard. Well, in this case it SURE is not!
If you keep using it intensively for more than a few weeks, you will find that it becomes much more rewarding to quit for a while.
You may experience worsening fatigue and rebound anxiety. Take 2 mg. Clonazepam to relieve that anxiety, (and if possible: take a good night's rest) and quit GHB for a while. You'll feel great again/anyway!
GHB IS A SELF-LIMITING DRUG. (And YES... I HAVE verified this (with) myself. But then again: I trust a (European) scientific opinion, rather than some US government propaganda!)
How long does one take GHB? It's inventor, the late Dr. Henri Laborit, seems to have used it three times a week for over thirty years (WITHOUT adverse effects).
But if used as an anti-depressant (3 times daily -morning, noon, and around six in the afternoon, on an empty stomach, 2.0-2.5 grams orally, but individual dosages may vary widely -as far as I know: 1-5 grams, and at the same time, the therapeutic window is rather small -beware!!) the psychotropic effects usually fade quite abruptly after a few weeks of usage.
You'd best stop immediately then, as to prevent rebound anxiety phenomenon, wait a few weeks (note that the amelioration of your mood REMAINS for days or weeks!) and start all over if you wish to.
It SEEMS that long term on and off usage will make you nicer, more sociable, more positive towards life, more self-confident, happier. (Haven't had the chance/time to verify. But, listening to my feelings, I definitely trust this may happen to me too.)
How such a simple substance can do that, is currently already being investigated, though there are not many researchers performing these investigations. (SADLY...)
How does one use GHB safely? 1) If in any way possible: find yourself a physician who knows about the AD effects of GHB! This may be difficult, however...
2) As the therapeutic window is small, you have to experiment a little to determine your personal dosage. The procedure is as follows: Preferably be with someone who knows what you are about to do.
Be sure to have an empty stomach. This is crucial. If your stomach is not empty, you will need (much) more GHB, or maybe it even simply won't work. Start with 1 (one) gram. Dissolve in orange juice or so, if you have the solid form.
The taste is not so good, hence the orange juice to mask that. Wait 20 minutes. If you feel light-headed (improbable at this point unless you're very responsive to GHB; it sometimes happens.) and/or notice talkativeness: stop here. This is your dosage. (You will not or hardly need increasingly higher dosages.)
The effects usually remain 1.5 to 2 hours. (If you want to play it even safer: wait 30 minutes instead of 20. This has, however, one disadvantage: The first dosage may already be wearing off when you're about to feel something. The sum of the dosages will then be more than your real personal dosage.)
Else -for most of us:
Take half a gram more, wait another 20 minutes, and check for the same phenomena. As long as you do not feel them, repeat this step. At some point -in most cases this is around 2 grams for people who are not used to taking (especially psychoactive) drugs you will notice the effects described above. (There are more effects, but these are the easiest to notice immediately) Stop at this point.
If you feel drowsy, you've taken a little too much. Relax, and enjoy (some music, for example...) If you feel nauseous, you've taken too much. The other person comes in handy in this case.
You might need to vomit, but it may also be sufficient to lay down (NOT on your back!! On one side!) to have this nausea disappear.
If this makes you feel anxious: some Clonazepam (1-2 mg) will help. (If you can still keep it in by that time... better take some before.) You may also best sleep for a while (to find yourself waking up... refreshed!) Once you have established 'your' dosage, you can use that amount all at the same time each time you take it.
The procedure seems not to work for all of us. I know one person who claims that the effects started very suddenly, over one hour after the first intake, and who had to go to sleep very fast.
It is not yet known why this MAY happen. It's not dangerous, but it IS annoying if you had planned other things... B.t.w. He woke up refreshed and without the slightest hint of a hangover.
Note: If you rush into a high dosage, you will simply be knocked out. Still nothing to worry about, although it should be understood that, in such a case, you will be rendered unarousable for a few hours, which may lead uninformed people to think that something nasty is going on.
There is, however, no danger for any damage whatsoever. If you just sleep for a few hours, you will wake up -completely recovered and without hangover. Maybe you're a little tired.
Slight headaches have also been reported, but that might very well have been due to impurities in the product (especially when bootleg-quality was used). To avoid misinterpretation: this is NOT coma; just unarousability!
3) As still little is known about combinations, I cannot recommend anything else than not to combine it with anything else, with only a few exceptions:
A) As GHB may, rarely, induce slight petit-mal-like effects, it should preferably be taken with the anti-epileptic Clonazepam (Rivotril). This side effect is rare, however.
Don't overdo it, as benzodiazepines have a tendency to make people who are already susceptible to depression... depressed, apparent exception being Lorazepam (Temesta).
1 mg Clonazepam in the morning will do the job. (When I started using GHB, I had no Clonazepam -only a physician who treated me like I was a naughty boy, when I told him about GHB...) I then used GHB without Clonazepam. I experienced no problems.
B) Cannabis seems to go along fine with GHB. But I do not guarantee anything... (By the way: If you become paranoid while on cannabis, and you would take GHB, your paranoia could very well vanish into thin air.
I for myself have been there, and found it extremely effective!!) Studies are being conducted to find out about GHB's value in this respect; as a paranolyticum. Other combinations to watch:
C) Alcohol+GHB. THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE NO-GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You will get sick (nauseous). And that's only the GOOD part. The bad part is that you may vomit and drop out, or even worse: drop out first, and then vomit.
If you inhale this, your lungs burn out, you can die... Avoidable with a little common sense, right? In the Netherlands, GHB was only recently banned after a few ignorants 'did' this combination and ended up in I.C. (only to wake up a few hours later, probably feeling OK, wondering what had happened, but also: having suffered NO permanent damage whatsoever Dutch.
Funny they didn't ban the ALCOHOL... By the way, for those who find this restriction a (serious) disadvantage: I used to like alcohol too, used it regularly, but when GHB came in the picture, alcohol simply lost its attraction... Besides: Alcohol usage and depression amplify each other...
D) On newsnet I read about people who have combined GHB with cocaine. First: because of it's toxicity, I can't recommend cocaine.
But another thing is: as both compounds juggle with your dopamine, concurrent use may bring unknown risks. If your intent for cocaine usage is sexual arousal, you may try GHB alone.
There's no aphrodisiac. In that case: take about half a therapeutic dosage; say 1 gr. (And it's absolutely safer than cocaine, of course, plus it SURE doesn't take away a male's performance, like cocaine often does.)
E) Opiates. Combining GHB with opiates brings the danger of amplifying respiratory depression.
F) I've read that combining GHB with antibiotics is inadvisable too. Don't know exactly WHAT the problem is, however.
G) Smart drugs. Many of them influence the cholinergic system. I've been strongly advised not to combine them with GHB, but I have NO idea what could cause a problem.
I have no indication that GHB interacts with the cholinergic system, but: I now prefer to wait a little until more is known about possible interactions. Remember I'm not a pharmacologist...
In the recommended dosages, GHB is (virtually) non-toxic, and there are NO toxic metabolites either. It simply breaks down to carbon dioxide.
Good (pure) GHB does NOT produce hangover (maybe in a rare case?). If you experience a (slight) headache: distrust your product. In this case, there are very probably impurities in it, which you most certainly don't want to ingest!!
GHB should also preferably be accompanied by a Potassium supplement. (Or even better: use the Potassium salt of GHB instead of the (usual) Sodium salt. You get plenty of Sodium already.
GHB-K is about 10% less potent than GHB-Na, because the K-ion is heavier than the Na-ion. And: a few grams of Potassium a day won't harm you -on the contrary; most diets are poor in Potassium, especially when compared to Sodium.)
GHB is contraindicated for epileptics and people with liver problems.
Note: Do NOT attempt to drive a vehicle while under the influence of GHB!!
There are many more things to be told about GHB, but there are also many things still to be cleared up (especially with regard to the pharmacological aspects of this remarkable drug).
It is my sincere hope that more scientists will take a closer look at this drug than those who are already working on it (but who are hardly heard!!!), and that *YOU* may also benefit from this treasure.
Since I started GHB, I feel incomparably better than before. I have a job which really brings a lot of stress, and requires lots of concentration; The stress hardly affects me now, and the concentration is no problem. (But that may have more reasons, one of them being that I hardly drink alcohol since I started taking GHB...)
One final note: There will always be people -especially in the USA- who claim that GHB in itself (uncombined) is a dangerous drug.
If you have any doubts about the sincerity of this article, or about GHB, I suggest you contact those people and ask them for solid scientific proof for their statements.
Please send me a copy of what you get in return, so I may update my information. I have given all information in good faith and to the best of my knowledge. Any useful comment on style and/or grammar is welcome too, as English is not my first language.
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